Blueberry plant named &#39;NS 14-1&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as ‘NS 14-1’ is described, with a strong vigor and which produces large to very large fruit, which is medium in acidity and medium in firmness, under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119 toCommunity Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Application No. 2018/3062 forCommunity Plant Variety Rights, filed on Nov. 22, 2018 for a blueberryplant with a variety denomination of ‘NS 14-1’, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

Latin name: Vaccinium hybrid.

Variety denomination:

The invention relates to a new, novel, and distinct variety of blueberryplant, a Vaccinium hybrid, with a variety denomination hereinafter as‘NS 14-1’.

SUMMARY

The new variety of blueberry plant resulted from an ongoing developmentprogram of plant breeding conducted to identify such plants. The purposeof the program was to improve the commercial quality of blueberry plantsand other plant species. To this end, controlled, hybrid,cross-pollinations were made in order to produce plant populations fromwhich improved progeny were evaluated and thereafter selected.

The ‘NS 14-1’ blueberry plant was originated and selected from apopulation of new plants growing on the breeder's property, which islocated at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia. The newvariety of blueberry plant was derived from a controlled, hybrid,cross-pollination of the seed parent, blueberry plant ‘7-26’(unpatented), and a pollen parent, blueberry plant ‘EB 8-30’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 25,889, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety) during the 2012 growing season.

Prior Varieties. The seed parent ‘7-26’ is characterized principally bya semi-upright growth habit, a medium vigor, an early season first pickdate, and further produces large-sized, medium firmness, high sweetness,and low acidity fruit under the ecological conditions occurring inYanchep, Western Australia. The seed parent ‘7-26’ is semi-evergreen andproduces fruit on one-year old shoots only.

The pollen parent ‘EB 8-30’, on the other hand, is characterizedprincipally by a semi-upright growth habit, a medium vigor, a very earlyseason first pick date, and further produces medium-to-large-sized,firm, high sweetness, and low acidity fruit under the ecologicalconditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. The pollen parent‘EB 8-30’ is evergreen and produces fruit on one-year old shoots only.

Origin. The seed from the seed parent ‘7-26’ produced approximately 600plants following cross-pollination. These new plants were then grown atthe aforementioned property, and fruit from these new plants was firstobserved in 2014. A subsequent assessment of these same self-fertile,new plants conducted during the 2015 growing season led to selecting the‘NS 14-1’ variety for further evaluation.

Asexual Reproduction. The further evaluation included an asexualvegetative propagation, by vegetative cuttings, at Yanchep Springs inYanchep, Western Australia. Subsequent evaluations of the newly derivedplants in the 2016 growing season led to a conclusion that the ‘NS 14-1’variety was a distinct and new variety of blueberry plant found to betrue to the original plant. The new variety of blueberry plant wasconsidered to be novel in view of its strong vigor and large to verylarge fruit, which exhibited medium acidity and medium firmness.

Comparisons. In comparison to the seed parent ‘7-26’ under theecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia, the newvariety has a noteworthy vigor. In this regard, the seed parent isconsidered to have a medium vigor. However, the new variety of blueberryplant has a strong vigor. In addition, the seed parent produces fruithaving a fruit size considered to be large. In contrast, the new varietyof blueberry plant produces fruit considered to be large to very large.Further, the seed parent produces fruit considered to exhibit lowacidity. This is in contrast to the fruit of the new variety ofblueberry plant, which is considered to exhibit medium acidity. Stillfurther, the seed parent produces fruit considered to exhibit mediumfirmness. This is comparable to the fruit of the new variety ofblueberry plant, which is also considered to exhibit medium firmness.

In comparison to the pollen parent ‘EB 8-30’ under the ecologicalconditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia, the new variety hasa noteworthy vigor. In this regard, the pollen parent is considered tohave a medium vigor. However, the new variety of blueberry plant has astrong vigor. In addition, the pollen parent produces fruit having afruit size considered to be medium to large. In contrast, the newvariety of blueberry plant produces fruit considered to be large to verylarge. Further, the pollen parent produces fruit considered to exhibitlow acidity. This is in contrast to the fruit of the new variety ofblueberry plant, which is considered to exhibit medium acidity. Stillfurther, the pollen parent produces fruit considered to be firm. This iscomparable to the fruit of the new variety of blueberry plant, which isalso considered to exhibit medium firmness.

The new variety of blueberry plant is readily distinguishable from themost closely related, known variety, the ‘EB 8-46’ blueberry plantdescribed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,173, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety. In this regard, the closest known variety ‘EB8-46’ has a vigor considered to be medium to strong under the ecologicalconditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia. In contrast, thenew variety of blueberry plant has a vigor considered to be strong. Inaddition, both the closest known variety and the new variety ofblueberry plant produce fruit having a fruit size considered to be largeto very large for the species. Further, the closest known varietyproduces fruit having a fruit acidity considered to be low. This is incontrast to the new variety, which produces medium acidity fruit. Stillfurther, the closest known variety produces fruit considered to be firmto very firm. This is in contrast to the fruit of the new variety ofblueberry plant, which is considered to exhibit medium firmness.

The comparisons described above are summarized in the table below.

Summary of Comparisons ‘7-26’ ‘EB 8-30’ ‘NS 14-1’ ‘EB 8-46’ (Seed)(Pollen) Plant Strong Medium to Medium Medium vigor strong Fruit Largeto Large to Large Medium size very large very large to large FruitMedium Low Low Low acidity Fruit Medium Firm to Medium Firm firmnessvery firm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are color photographs of the new blueberryplant ‘NS 14-1’ during the second year of growth under the ecologicalconditions prevailing at the breeder's property, which is located atYanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph, which shows fruit of the new blueberryplant ‘NS 14-1’, the fruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting andshipment. This photograph also depicts the large to very large fruitsize and the color of the ripe fruit.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph, which shows the new blueberry plant ‘NS14-1’. This photograph depicts a mature bush with ripe and unripefruits, the large to very large fruit size, and the upright growth habitof the bush. The ripe fruit is sufficiently mature for harvesting andshipment.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph, which shows a portion of a vegetative stembearing leaves of the new blueberry plant ‘NS 14-1’. This photographdepicts leaves at different stages of maturation, the upper and underside coloration thereof, and three blooms at different stages ofmaturation.

The colors in these photographs are as nearly true as is reasonablypossible in a color representation of this type. Due to variations incolor printers and/or chemical development, processing and printing, thecolors of the plant parts depicted in these photographs may, or may not,be accurate when compared to the actual specimen. For this reason, colorreferences are made to the color plates (Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart, Sixth Edition, hereinafter, “R.H.S.”) and descriptionsprovided.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Not a Commercial Warranty. The following detailed description wasprepared solely to comply with the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, anddoes not constitute a commercial warranty (either expressed or implied)that the present variety will, in the future, display the botanical,horticultural, or other characteristics set forth herein. Therefore,this disclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legalclaims including, but not limited to, breach of warranty ofmerchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose, ornon-infringement, which is directed in whole, or in part, to the presentnew variety of plant.

Referring more specifically to the botanical features of this new anddistinct variety of blueberry plant, the following has been observedduring the second year of growth under the ecological conditionsprevailing at the breeder's property, which is located at YanchepSprings in Yanchep, Western Australia.

-   Plant: General.    -   -   Vigor.—Considered strong for the species. This is in            contrast to the seed parent ‘7-26’, wherein the plant vigor            is only considered medium. This is also in contrast to the            pollen parent ‘EB 8-30’, wherein the plant vigor is only            considered medium. This is further in contrast to the            closest known variety ‘EB 8-46’, wherein the plant vigor is            considered medium to strong.        -   Growth habit.—Considered upright. This is in comparison to            the commercial variety ‘Ivanhoe’, which is considered to be            upright.        -   Average size of plant.—1.55 meters in height by 1.05 meter            in width.        -   Internode length (space between nodes).—Considered very            short, 6 to 7 millimeters (mm).        -   Bark color.—RHS Grey Reddish Orange Group 174B.        -   Color, one year old shoots.—RHS Moderate Yellow Green Group            147B and RHS Greyish Red Group 182B.        -   Fruiting type.—On one-year-old shoots only, in like manner            to commercial varieties ‘Darrow’ and ‘Patriot’.-   Foliage: General.    -   -   Average leaf length.—Considered medium to long for the            species, 60.6 mm.        -   Average leaf width.—Considered medium to broad for the            species, 29.9 mm.        -   Color of leaf upper.—RHS Moderate Olive Green Group 146A.        -   Color of leaf underside.—RHS Greyish Yellow Green Group            148C.        -   Vein color of plant leaf.—RHS Moderate Yellow Green Group            146B.        -   Venation pattern of leaf.—Pinnate reticulate.        -   Leaf apex texture.—Glabrous.        -   Leaf apex shape.—Acute.        -   Leaf base shape.—Acute.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire or serrate — Entire.        -   Leaf arrangement of plant.—Alternate.-   Flowers:    -   -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—6 to 8.        -   Average length of inflorescence (excluding            peduncle).—Considered medium, 13.68 mm.        -   Corolla shape.—Urceolate.        -   Corolla tube surface texture.—Ridges are present on the            corolla tube.        -   Average corolla size.—Considered medium to large, 9 to 10 mm            in length by 7 to 8 mm in width.        -   Corolla diameter.—7.82 mm.        -   Average corolla aperture size.—3.84 mm.        -   Corolla color.—RHS White Group NN155D.        -   Pedicel color.—RHS Pale Green Group 149D.        -   Average pedicel length.—3.69 mm.        -   Average calyx diameter.—Considered small to medium, 4.95 mm.        -   Average calyx basin depth.—Considered deep, 2.87 mm.        -   Attitude of sepals.—Considered erect.        -   Type of sepals.—Considered incurving.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Average size of pollen anthers.—5.35 mm.        -   Color of pollen anthers.—RHS Strong Orange Group 170A.        -   Average pistil length.—9.68 mm.        -   Pistil color.—RHS Strong Yellow Green Group 145A.-   Fruit:    -   -   Color of unripe fruit.—RHS Strong Yellow Green Group 144B.        -   Color of fruit skin.—RHS Bluish Black Group 203C, also            considered “dark blue” in like color to the commercial            variety ‘Heerma’, after removal of bloom.        -   Color of ripe fruit flesh.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group            145B.        -   Color of seeds.—RHS Strong Orange Yellow Group 163B.        -   Average fruit size.—Considered large to very large, 20 to 22            mm in diameter and 19.13 mm in height. This is in contrast            to the seed parent ‘7-26’, wherein the fruit size is            considered large, and the pollen parent ‘EB 8-30’, wherein            the fruit size is only considered medium to large. Fruit            size of the closest known variety ‘EB 8-46’ is also            considered large to very large.        -   Average weight of fruit.—2.5 grams.        -   Average fruit production.—6-8 kilograms on a three-year-old            bush.        -   Berry shape.—Considered round.        -   Sweetness when ripe.—Considered medium for the species.        -   Firmness when ripe.—Considered medium for the species. This            is comparable to the seed parent ‘7-26’, wherein the fruit            firmness is also considered medium. This is in contrast to            the pollen parent ‘EB 8-30’, wherein the fruit is considered            firm. This is in further contrast to the closest known            variety ‘EB 8-46’, wherein the fruit is considered firm to            very firm.        -   Acidity when ripe.—Considered medium for the species. This            is in contrast to the seed parent ‘7-26’, the pollen parent            ‘EB 8-30’, and the closest known variety ‘EB 8-46’, wherein            the fruit acidity of each is considered low.        -   Cluster density.—Considered medium to dense for the species.        -   Storability of fruit.—Considered excellent for the species.        -   Market use of fruit.—1st grade fresh market fruit.        -   Date of bud burst.—This variety is evergreen.        -   Date of vegetative bud burst.—Early August under the            ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western            Australia.        -   Date of bloom time.—May/June under the ecological conditions            prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, also considered            early on one-year old shoot in like manner to the commercial            variety ‘Weymouth’.        -   Duration of bloom time.—12 weeks.        -   Beginning of fruit ripening.—Considered early on            one-year-old shoot in like manner to the commercial variety            ‘Blueray’.        -   First pick date.—August under the ecological conditions            prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.        -   Last pick date.—November under the ecological conditions            prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.        -   Pollination requirements.—Self-fertile.        -   Resistance to pests and disease.—No particular resistance            noted. The variety has not been tested to detect any            resistance. Although the new variety of blueberry plant            possesses the described characteristics when grown under the            ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western            Australia, it should be understood that variations are to be            expected in the usual magnitude and characteristics incident            to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning,            pest control, frost, climatic variables, and horticultural            management.

Having thus described and illustrated a new variety of blueberry plant, what is claimed to secure a plant letters patent is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described, which is characterized principally as to novelty by a strong vigor and by producing fruit considered large to very large in size, medium in acidity, and medium in firmness under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia. 